Future Hindsight: 5 Players You’ll Want Off Week 13 Waivers

Looking a week ahead to find out which players we think will do well enough in Week 12 to warrant picking up for Week 13 is a tough exercise!

It just got much tougher this week because you’re not allowed to pick up players that play on Thursday. Normally, that means you have to skip two teams of players. But this week, you’re going to miss out on six teams because of three Turkey Day games.

So on this list, you won’t see me pimping Sam Bradford, Philip Dorsett or Anquan Boldin, despite their play Thursday or schedules next week.

Plus, the Browns and Titans are on byes in Week 13!

That means we’re back to looking at Week 8/9 types of available players, choosing from just 26 teams.

We’re up for the challenge, though, we promise!

5 Fantasy Football Players We’ll Want Off Week 13 Waivers

We’re only going to list the players that are still available, before Week 12’s games, in 70 percent or more Fantasy Football leagues on CBSSports.com.

Brock Osweiler, QB, Houston at Green Bay (Owned in 28% of Leagues)

The Packers are one of the worst defenses against Fantasy quarterbacks this season, allowing 2.10 touchdown passes per game!

Sure, Osweiler had a 99-yard game just a couple weeks ago, but he did rebound against Oakland. The Packers are much better against the run, so we expect Houston to utilize Lamar Miller more in the passing game – which benefits Osweiler’s owners, too. He might be Marcus Mariota’s owners’ best option this week.

Photo Credit: Icon Sportswire, Getty Images

Alex Collins, RB, Seattle vs. Carolina (Owned in 19% of Leagues)

The Seahawks’ backfield is doing it with smoke and mirrors these days, with Christine Michael gone, Thomas Rawls back from injury just in time to replace rookie C.J. Prosise.

It’s reasonable to think that Rawls might struggle over the next couple weeks, and Collins, another rookie, will be ready to step in. He hasn’t done much so far this year, but remember that he was actually the more anticipated rookie RB coming into this season, over Prosise. Collins has recently lost weight, and the ‘Hawks might need him if anything goes wrong with Rawls.

Peyton Barber is another similar option – a rookie backup to a brittle starting back in front of him (Doug Martin).

Photo Credit: Jonathan Ferrey, Getty Images

Chris Hogan, WR, New England vs. L.A. Rams (Owned in 29% of Leagues)

Hogan is dealing with back issues this week, but we’re anticipating that will be behind him by the time next week’s games roll around. The Patriots host the Rams, which means Hogan’s opposing defensive backs will have traveled across the country to play him, while his back will be resting and treated at home.

Also, this game is at 1pm ET, which means you’ll be able to confirm if he’s playing or not before you set your lineups. He should make for a decent WR3 from an otherwise thin group of players to choose from.

Photo Credit: Tom Szczerbowski, Getty Images

Austin Hooper, TE, Atlanta vs. Kansas City (Owned in 12% of Leagues)

Not gonna lie here – there aren’t many plausible Fantasy options for you from this under-30% group. (Keep an eye on Vernon Davis (31%), though, since Jordan Reed is dealing with a shoulder injury.)

Hooper is the best of a sparse lot, and he’s a young talent with upside. But he plays against a Chiefs defense that’s pretty tough on tight ends.

Photo Credit: Justin Edmonds, Getty Images

Bears Defense vs. 49ers (Owned in 15% of Leagues)

To be honest, either of the DSTs involved in this game should be worth considering among the top 15 defenses in Week 13. Both are available, and they’re both facing offenses that have struggled this year. The 49ers are on the road, however, so we lean toward the Bears, who might be hoping for an out-of-nowhere blizzard.

Also, the Bears DST has seen some pretty good outings this year, unlike the 49ers DST. Plus, the 49ers rank among the best offenses for Fantasy DSTs to face, and they’ve only given up one defensive touchdown this year. That is good news because defensive TDs are pretty lucky, which means all the points the 49ers offense gives up is based on sacks allowed (23 in the past six weeks) and turnovers.

Brock Osweiler, QB, Houston at Green Bay (Owned in 28% of Leagues)

The Packers are one of the worst defenses against Fantasy quarterbacks this season, allowing 2.10 touchdown passes per game!

Sure, Osweiler had a 99-yard game just a couple weeks ago, but he did rebound against Oakland. The Packers are much better against the run, so we expect Houston to utilize Lamar Miller more in the passing game – which benefits Osweiler’s owners, too. He might be Marcus Mariota’s owners’ best option this week.

Photo Credit: Icon Sportswire, Getty Images

2/5

Alex Collins, RB, Seattle vs. Carolina (Owned in 19% of Leagues)

The Seahawks’ backfield is doing it with smoke and mirrors these days, with Christine Michael gone, Thomas Rawls back from injury just in time to replace rookie C.J. Prosise.

It’s reasonable to think that Rawls might struggle over the next couple weeks, and Collins, another rookie, will be ready to step in. He hasn’t done much so far this year, but remember that he was actually the more anticipated rookie RB coming into this season, over Prosise. Collins has recently lost weight, and the ‘Hawks might need him if anything goes wrong with Rawls.

Peyton Barber is another similar option – a rookie backup to a brittle starting back in front of him (Doug Martin).

Photo Credit: Jonathan Ferrey, Getty Images

3/5

Chris Hogan, WR, New England vs. L.A. Rams (Owned in 29% of Leagues)

Hogan is dealing with back issues this week, but we’re anticipating that will be behind him by the time next week’s games roll around. The Patriots host the Rams, which means Hogan’s opposing defensive backs will have traveled across the country to play him, while his back will be resting and treated at home.

Also, this game is at 1pm ET, which means you’ll be able to confirm if he’s playing or not before you set your lineups. He should make for a decent WR3 from an otherwise thin group of players to choose from.

Photo Credit: Tom Szczerbowski, Getty Images

4/5

Austin Hooper, TE, Atlanta vs. Kansas City (Owned in 12% of Leagues)

Not gonna lie here – there aren’t many plausible Fantasy options for you from this under-30% group. (Keep an eye on Vernon Davis (31%), though, since Jordan Reed is dealing with a shoulder injury.)

Hooper is the best of a sparse lot, and he’s a young talent with upside. But he plays against a Chiefs defense that’s pretty tough on tight ends.

Photo Credit: Justin Edmonds, Getty Images

5/5

Bears Defense vs. 49ers (Owned in 15% of Leagues)

To be honest, either of the DSTs involved in this game should be worth considering among the top 15 defenses in Week 13. Both are available, and they’re both facing offenses that have struggled this year. The 49ers are on the road, however, so we lean toward the Bears, who might be hoping for an out-of-nowhere blizzard.

Also, the Bears DST has seen some pretty good outings this year, unlike the 49ers DST. Plus, the 49ers rank among the best offenses for Fantasy DSTs to face, and they’ve only given up one defensive touchdown this year. That is good news because defensive TDs are pretty lucky, which means all the points the 49ers offense gives up is based on sacks allowed (23 in the past six weeks) and turnovers.